Sited on 163 wooded acres along the slopes of Rock Creek Park, the 120-year-old Smithsonian National Zoological Park is one of the most scenic zoos in the country.
The park’s lovable giant panda bears — Tian Tian and Mei Xiang — left the zoo in November 2023, but there’s much more to discover among the 2,000 animals and 400 different species represented here.
See, for instance:
- Orangutans swing from 50-foot-high outdoor towers
- Sea lions train at 11:15 am daily
- Two-toed sloths play peek-a-boo in the Amazonia rainforest exhibit
- Parrots swoop by in an indoor flight room.
There’s plenty here for a full day’s outing.
The Zoo has undergone a lot of improvements. In 2006, a $53 million eco-friendly Asia Trial opened to rave reviews, expanding outdoor habitats for sloth bears, fishing cats, red pandas, clouded leopards, and Asian small-clawed otters. There was a complete renovation of the American Trail exhibit in 2012, completion of the Elephant Trails exhibit in 2013 , and a re-design of the Zoo’s historic Bird House exhibit in 2023.
Admission to the Zoo is Free, but passes are required.
For more, visit www.nationalzoo.si.edu
Travel Tips
The Zoo has an ample supply of eating options. On top of your typical food stands, the Zoo has restaurants and cafes scattered throughout, serving food from burgers to grilled chicken sandwiches. The Zoo also encourages visitors to picnic. Picnic areas around the Zoo grounds work on a first-come, first-served basis. Be aware that, besides coolers, cooking devices (such as grills) are not allowed on Zoo grounds.
Strollers are available for rent for use at the Zoo. Ask for information at any Zoo kiosk.
Zoo maps are available at the Visitor Center and any information kiosk for a small fee. If you want to carry around a map, but not pay for one, you can print one ahead of time from the Zoo web site.
Special Events
The National Zoo has many special events throughout the year. From Easter Monday egg hunts, to ZooLights in December.
Easter Monday
Brew at the Zoo
Boo at the Zoo
ZooLights
Travel InformationNational Zoo Hours: For Zoo hours, click here. Admission: Free Parking: Visitors are encouraged to take public transportation seeing as the parking lots fill up quickly. For up-to-date parking information, click here. Metrorail: Red Line stops for Cleveland Park or Woodley Park/Zoo-Adams Morgan. Woodley Park is slightly closer but the walk is uphill, as opposed to the slight downhill from Cleveland Park. |
Nearby Attractions
Washington National Cathedral
Suggested Tours
Old Town Trolley Tour
I have in my possession two very nicely made, black metal, wild animal figures. One is a tiger (approximately 20”x10”)and the other is an elephant (approximately 13”x10”). I estimate their age to be over a hundred years old. They were my grand mother’s, or possibly great grand mother’s. I’m 78 years old. I would like to donate them to the Smithsonian National Zoo., but don’t know how to do that.
If Cleveland Park is downhill when you get there, it will obviously be uphill when you leave the zoo, so Woodley Park would be the stop to take, Especially considering after a day of walking in the zoo, it will be downhill to the Woodley Park stop when you leave, which is a nice break.
I suppose arriving at Cleveland and leaving from Woodley would make the most sense. If you’re lazy that is 😀
HOW MUCH IS THE TICKET FOR ADULTS ?
General admission to the Zoo is free.
Even for the vistors not from the D.C. Area?
Yes. Admission is free for all visitors.
Does the National Zoo collect leftover pumpkins from area grocery stores for the animals to play with?
Contact the National Zoo directly using the following web page:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Contact/
So you dont have to pay to get in you just pay for parking?? Is that how that goes.. I’m just wondering how that works..
There is no admission fee to enter the National Zoo. Parking nearby is limited, so the parking lots at the zoo do have a fee. If you do not need your car, you can use Metro and avoid the need for parking.